The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 2 - The Obamacare subsidy isn’t the problem. Obamacare is.
Date: December 31, 2025
Host: Brian Mudd (in for Clay & Buck)
Guests: Congressman Byron Donalds (FL), Florida Attorney General James Uthmeyer

Episode Overview

This hour focuses on the expiration of Obamacare (ACA) subsidies, critiques of the Affordable Care Act, ongoing government fraud investigations (especially the major child care fraud in Minnesota), and reflections on the impact of the Trump administration’s policies in its second term. Host Brian Mudd leads conversations around healthcare reform, government waste, and the pivotal role of state and federal oversight, with contributions from Congressman Byron Donalds and Florida’s AG James Uthmeyer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Successes of Trump’s 2nd Term and Congress’s Role

[03:05–06:56]

• Donald Trump’s 20-Point Plan: Reflects on the rapid policy changes and reforms executed in Trump’s 2nd term, emphasizing border security, economic recovery, and ending foreign conflicts.
• Congressional Challenges: Rep. Byron Donalds describes the "Herculean effort" needed to pass Trump’s legislative agenda despite a narrow GOP majority and Democratic resistance.
• Healthcare Reform as a Next Step: Moving from blaming Democrats for Obamacare to taking Republican responsibility to fix it.

Notable Quote:
“Congress’s role… has been monumental. But we still have a long way to go.”
— Congressman Byron Donalds [06:38]

2. The Path Forward on Healthcare Reform

[06:56–11:27]

• ACA Subsidies Expiring: Discussion around the end of COVID-era enhanced subsidies.
• Fundamental Regulatory Reform: Endorsement of a bill by Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. August Pfluger, aimed at cutting mandates, empowering consumers instead of insurance companies, increasing price transparency, and promoting association health plans.
• Critique of Subsidy Model: Argues that subsidies mask rather than solve the cost problem, keeping prices high and distorting the market.

Notable Quotes:
“Give purchasing power to people, let them make their healthcare purchases, get rid of the crazy mandates… allow a free-flowing marketplace.”
— Congressman Byron Donalds [07:58]

“More subsidies aren’t going to fix the problem. It’s only going to mask the high costs and costs are going to continue to rise if we don’t fix the problem. The problem’s Obamacare.”
— Congressman Byron Donalds [09:20]

3. The Economics of Healthcare: Market Forces vs. Government

[11:27–12:49]

• Historical Perspective: Cites economists’ charts (Milton Friedman): when government subsidies are high (as in healthcare and higher ed), costs go up, quality goes down.
• The Problem with ACA: Argues ACA hasn’t worked for families and that Republicans must stop “fighting the last war” and instead act boldly for market-driven solutions.

Notable Quote:
“The worst way to spend money [is] spending other people’s money on other people… the price always increases, the quality decreases, you get more frustration.”
— Congressman Byron Donalds [11:48]

4. Fraud in Federal Programs: The Minnesota Childcare Scandal

[12:49–16:18, 23:05–34:36]

• Expose of Major Fraud: Discussion about $8 billion in alleged fraud in Minnesota’s federal childcare program, with House Oversight hearings set to begin.
• Failures in Oversight: Byron Donalds and AG Uthmeyer hammer on lack of accountability, eligibility controls, and audit frameworks—characterizing blue states as more likely to tolerate or facilitate such fraud.
• Political Implications: Suggests Democratic administrations are complicit in fraud for political gain.

Notable Quotes:
“My gut tells me Minnesota is just the tip of the iceberg… I don’t think it’s incompetency. I think it’s complicity.”
— Congressman Byron Donalds [15:59]

“This is unbelievable corruption and gross negligence of epic proportions that can only exist after decades of systematic poor leadership.”
— Florida AG James Uthmeyer [24:56]

5. State vs. Federal Responsibility & Solutions

[27:18–34:48]

• State Oversight in Florida: AG Uthmeyer discusses proactive fraud detection in Florida, emphasizing red-state accountability in contrast to blue-state complacency.
• Migration Trends: Asserts people are “voting with their feet” and moving to states with more accountability and better public safety.
• Praise of Whistleblowers: Credits journalism (e.g., Nick Shirley) for exposing fraud when governments fail.

Notable Quote:
“If you steal from the taxpayers, you need to go to jail.”
— Florida AG James Uthmeyer [30:28]

6. Trump’s Policy Impact in Florida

[30:44–34:36]

• Results-Oriented Leadership: AG Uthmeyer highlights falling crime rates, crackdown on illegal immigration, and fighting fentanyl as direct outcomes of new federal and Florida policies.
• Calls for Future Focus: Sees “affordability” as the next big theme—property taxes, jobs for Americans, reducing abuse of labor programs.

Notable Quote:
“The President has delivered on almost all of his promises… If you support law enforcement, give them the tools… shut down the border… you do get results.”
— Florida AG James Uthmeyer [31:26]

7. Healthcare Consumer Perspective: Insurance ≠ Care

[20:03–22:50]

• Misplaced Focus on Insurance: Brian Mudd calls out conflating insurance with healthcare, arguing that most people spend little out-of-pocket on actual care relative to insurance premiums, and that insurance often obstructs real consumer choice in care.

Notable Quote:
“Insurance does not equal health care. In fact, insurance for most people is an obstacle to health care.”
— Brian Mudd [20:28]

8. Importance of Voter Participation & Local Accountability

[34:50–36:47]

• Elections Matter: Mudd emphasizes the power of local elections and urges listeners to be active at all levels, not to take reform for granted.

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• [04:52] “What President Trump came in and did is exactly what he told people he would do on the campaign trail. Day one, shut the border down... started moving to our economy.” — Congressman Byron Donalds

• [09:42] “The problem isn't the lack of subsidies. Obamacare is the crisis.” — Brian Mudd

• [11:48] “Milton Friedman said, the worst way to spend money [is] spending other people’s money on other people.” — Congressman Byron Donalds

• [15:59] “I don’t think it’s incompetency. I think it’s complicity.” — Congressman Byron Donalds, on blue states and fraud

• [24:56] “This is unbelievable corruption and gross negligence of epic proportions... when you are pro-welfare... this type of fraud is going to happen.” — AG James Uthmeyer

• [31:26] “The President has delivered on almost all of his promises... In big cities like Jacksonville, the murder rates have been cut in half over the last three, four years.” — AG James Uthmeyer

• [33:26] “The President has shifted the theme a little bit towards affordability... But we've got to find more ways to help people with, you know, the burdens they face every day.” — AG James Uthmeyer

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Trump’s first 11 months & Congressional challenges: [03:05–06:56]
• Future of healthcare reform beyond ACA subsidies: [06:56–11:27]
• Economics of healthcare, the harm of government subsidies: [11:27–12:49]
• Preview of House Oversight hearing on MN fraud: [12:49–16:18]
• Detailed Minnesota scandal discussion (w/ AG Uthmeyer): [23:05–34:48]
• Trump’s impact on Florida policy & state approach: [30:44–34:36]
• Insurance vs. health care—consumer impact: [20:03–22:50]
• Voter engagement and local elections: [34:50–36:47]

Tone and Language

The episode is direct, combative toward Democratic policies, and supportive of aggressive GOP reform. The language is unfiltered and conversational, blending policy details with critical commentary and political rhetoric.

Summary for New Listeners

This hour argues that the expiration of ACA subsidies exposes deeper flaws in Obamacare itself, and urges direct, consumer-driven health market reforms. Interviews dissect the Minnesota childcare fraud as a case study in government waste enabled by poor blue-state oversight, contrasting it with Florida’s proactive approach. Throughout, the successes and challenges of the Trump administration’s second term are examined as evidence for the necessity of market-based reforms and vigilant state and federal oversight.

Listeners are encouraged to remain civically engaged, especially at local levels, with the message that policy—and its results—are ultimately determined by who shows up to vote.